Air cut-of for automobile radiators



" p 1930- G. KALENOFF AIR CUT-OFF FOR AUTOMOBILE RADIATORS Filed April 13, 1929' INVENTOR .Gode Z Kale off ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 9, 1930' UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE AIR GUT-OFF FOB AUTOMOBILE RADIATOR Application filed April 18, 1928. Serial No. 854,858.

This invention relates to air cut-ofl's for automobile radiators.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive device which may be readily attached to the front and preferably the lower portion of a radiator so as to cut oif the circulation of air through a portion of the radiator.

It is a well known fact that radiators for 10 internal combustion engines as employed on automobiles require less circulation of air in cold weather than in warm weather, and, in fact, if a too great circulation is permitted in cold weather there is a tendency to freeze the water in the radiator.

Drivers of automobiles knowing this fact utilize pieces of cardboard or other material to cut ofi the circulation through a portion of the radiator. Such devices disfigure the car and it is diflicult to properly maintain them in place.

It is the broad idea of my invention to provide a cut-off device which can be manufactured and sold at a reasonably low price, which can be conveniently manipulated with one hand if desired to secure the same in place or remove the device from the radiator, and which will be most eflicient in cutting off the air without in any way injuring or disfiguring the radiator.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts, which will be more fully hereinafter described and pointed out of one corner of the cut-off device showing one form of attaching finger;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5, showing a modification.

1 represents what I shall hereinafter call a plate although it is to be distinctly understood that this plate 1 may be of wood, metal, cardboard or any other material which is suitable for the purpose, and it may be ofsuch weight and thickness as desired. Of course the de-: vice may be made of various materials, some cheaper than others, so that the device may be furnished to the market at a cost within the reach of every one.

.I shall illustrate the device as shown in the drawing with the understanding of course that I do not wish to be. limited to specific details of construction. Assuming that the plate 1 is of wood, it is made of suitable thickness and is preferablyformed with beveled or tapering edges 2 so as to neatly fit within the casing 3 of an automobile radiator A.

This casing 3 of the radiator A is provided with any suitable form of openwork 4 so that air can pass through the same to cool the water in the radiator. M improved plate 1 is designed primaril to t and close the lower portion 0 the ra iator so as'toprevent circulation of air through a portion of the radiator, and of course the device may be made as I large or as small as desired.

While it is the common practice to locate the device at the lower portion of the radiator it may be located anywhere desired. I

My invention has particularly to do with the means for holding the device in operative position against the radiator and this means comprises a single piece of spring wire 5 bent substantially as follows: The wire midway between its ends is given a general compound curvature, as indicated at 6, and is secured to the plate 1 by a staple 7 or any other suitable means.

The plate 1 above the point of attachment or staple 7 is preferably formed with a recess 8, and the ends of the wire extend upwardly and are bent, forming finger receiving loops 9, 9, disposed above or partially inthe recess 8 so as to provide accommodation for the thumb and finger of one hand in the re- .ti'ons and preferably along the up eredge of the plate 1, constituting locking olts 12, 12

which are guided in staples or eyes or any other suitable devices 11 secured to the upper ed e of the plate 1.

Ihe extremities of these-locking bolts are adapted to engage in notches or perforations 13 in the inner edges of the casing land said bolts may be straight, as indicated in Figure 7 6, or they ma have attheir extremities a series of return ends providing an overlapping portion 14 which lies over the outer surface or. face of the radiator casing, as indicated .in Figures 1, 3 and 5 of the drawings.

The plate 1 may also have at its lower edge a pin 15 which projects through a notch or opening 16 in the lower portion of the radiator so that when this pin and the bolts are in place the device is securely held. I may also provide a felt or other sheet facing 15 on the inner face of the plate to prevent scratching of the radiator and more effectually ex- .clude the air.

With my improved device it is simply necessary for the operator to insert the fingers through one of the loops 9 'and the thumb through the other loop 9 and grip the securing device so that he can withdraw the bolts 12 and remove or replace the device by the operation of one han While I have illustrated the radiator asbeing provided with notches or openings to receive the bolts 12 and pin 15 it is to be distinctly understood that in many types of radiator it is not necessary to provide notches or openings as the bolts and pin can be all .connected back of a flange on the radiator,

and I may dispense altogether with the pin 15, if desired, in the plate.

Various changes and alterations might be made in. the general form of the parts described without departing from my invention and hence I do not limit myself to the precise details set forth but consider myself 1lgoid to support the latter and manipulate the 2. An air cut-off device of the character described, comprising a plate of suitable material, and a securing device composed of spring wire secured at its intermediate portion to the plate and at its ends constituting bolts for engagement with a radiator, the portion of said wire adjacent the point of attachment bent forming finger and thumb receiving loops to constitute a handhold to support the latter and manipulate the bolts, said plate having a recess therein back of the loops.

3. An air cut-ofl' device of the character described, comprising a plate of. suitable material, and a securing device composed of spring wire secured at its intermediate portion to the plate and at its ends constituting bolts for engagement with a radiator, the portion of said wire adjacent the point of attachment bent forming finger and thumb re ceiving loops to constitute a handhold to support the latter and manipulate the bolts, said bolts adjacent their extremities having return bends whereby projections are provided engaging the inner and outer walls of the radiator casing. v

4. An air cut-ofl' device of the character described, comprising a plate of suitable material, a. securing device composed of spring wire secured at its intermediate portion to the plate and at its ends constituting bolts for engagement with a radiator, the portion of said wire adjacent the point of attachment bent forming finger and thumb receiving loops to constitute a handhold to support the 1 latter and manipulate the bolts, and a pin on the lower edge of the plate adapted to operatively engage the lower portion of the radia'tor.

- Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 12th day of April, A. D, 1929.

GODEL KALENOFF.

atlibert to make such changes and alterations as airly fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim: 1. An air cut-off deviceof the character described, comprising a late of suitable material, and, a securing evice composed of spring wire secured at its inter-medlate portion to the plate and at its ends constituting bolts for engagement with a radiator, the

portion of said wire adjacent the point of attachment-being bent forming finger and 

